New definition opens doors for food waste use in animal feed

A new communication from the European Commission on the Circular Economy makes it clear that former foodstuffs destined for animal feed should not be classified as ‘waste’.

This definition could pave the way for the expansion of the former foodstuffs sector and a consequent reduction in food waste in the UK and across Europe, according to the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC). This supports the European strategy to reduce food waste and the amount of food going to landfill.

Read also: Former foodstuffs: Not 'waste' but feedOn 2 December the European Commission published the long-awaited Communication on the Circular Economy. EFFPA is pleased to see that the Commission is set on unambiguously making clear that former foodstuffs destined to animal feed should under no circumstances be considered a 'waste'.

The Commission also proposes to exclude all feed materials, including former feedstuffs, from the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC in its legal proposal on waste. The former foodstuffs sector is represented in this country by UKFFPA (UK Former Foodstuffs Processors Association), which is affiliated to AIC. The industry already processes 650,000 tonnes in the UK, and 3.5 million tonnes across Europe.

Inge Verwoerd, Feed Sector Manager for AIC said: "This is an important milestone for the former foodstuffs industry. For food manufacturers it is now clear that sending former foodstuffs to be processed for animal feed can help them to meet their waste reduction targets and reduce the amount of food going to landfill. The EU has a target of reducing landfill to a maximum of 10% of all waste by 2030."

Read also: Feed: solution for food wasteIn the EU, around 3.5 million tonnes of former foodstuffs are used in livestock feed. This can be doubled with the right regulatory guidance, according to EFFPA, the European Former Foodstuff Processors Association.

AIC and UKFFPA have been instrumental in helping to introduce a new module – BRC Voluntary Module 9 – to the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety. For those food manufacturing companies sending foodstuffs for conversion to animal feed, the additional module has the potential to save time and money in meeting the legal requirements of supply chain assurance.

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One comment

how about waste of animal origin, as EC 142/2011 define ‘catering waste’ as all waste food, including used cooking oil originating in restaurants, catering facilities and kitchens, including central kitchens and household kitchens;I think setting special measure for treating such foodwaste will guarantee safety, in addition to separation between food items is necessary, besides, the time for collection ahould be determined as spoiled food waste will harm the animal health